Why Do I Fight for the Earth? Because I’m a Joyful Girl.

Some days it seems like all the work I do on behalf of the animals, plants, insects and other life that make up all the beauty in my world is just a (pointless) drop in the bucket. Humans seems dead-set on destruction of this incredible jewel of a planet we’ve been given, and who am I to try to stop a clearly suicidal culture?

I’ve never known exactly what I want to do with my life- studying science, being in nature, and revelling in art are the things that give me the greatest joy. To me the intricacies of the sodium-potassium pump that resides in each of our cells, watching a sea turtle traverse an invisible ocean current, and listening to Beethoven’s 7th all bring a sense of overwhelming happiness and thankfulness for being alive. I have these moments quite often. Cacaphonous torrents of emotion that are akin to what I’m sure some people describe as ‘religious experiences’. As an atheist, I don’t believe in god, or gods, or even a generic supreme being or energetic force. But I do believe that I’m here to preserve and promote beauty. And the Earth is the most beautiful thing I know.

So when I’m feeling the burning sadness of knowing I only have a short time to love all of this, and the frustration of being so unable to communicate that to other people, I turn to my favorite artists. Ani DiFranco has been one of my mentors (though I’ve never met her) for at least ten years now and her songs give me strength and perspective when I need it most. Thanks Ani. Here’s the song that has given me courage on many difficult, beautiful days:

“Joyful Girl”

i do it for the joy it brings

because i’m a joyful girl

because the world owes me nothing

and we owe each other the world

i do it because it’s the least i can do

i do it because i learned it from you

i do it just because i want to

because I want to

everything i do is judged

and they mostly get it wrong

but oh well

‘cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged

and the woman who lives there can tell

the truth from the stuff that they say

and she looks me in the eye

and says would you prefer the easy way?

no, well o.k. then

don’t cry

and i wonder if everything i do

i do instead

of something i want to do more

the question fills my head

i know that there’s no grand plan here

this is just the way it goes

and when everything else seems unclear

i guess at least i know

i do it for the joy it brings…

Joyful Girl (Remix)